Sunday, April 24, 2011

Our church held 6 services to accomodate the anticipated crowds. I served at 2 services and was glad to sit down and listen to a powerful message. We were squished in at the 11:00 service. After church, lunch. After lunch, Egg Hunt.

When you have kids as old as mine are, the Easter Bunny still comes but just brings cash. This year, he split the cash up into smaller bills and put it in eggs. I saw a 23 and 20 year old revert back to a 4 and 2 1/2 year old in a second.

The 23 ... I mean....4 year old ran around like crazy grabbing eggs she sighted with her eagle eye. The baby....he sort of stood and looked around in circles and found one egg to the other's six.

At one point he said this made him feel stupid. I was helping him search and Chuck was yelling out colder.....cool......warm...warmer....to guide him to the right place. At least it made it last a little while.

I told the big sister to help her baby brother.....just like old times.

When one bends down to pick up an egg, one's candy all falls out of their basket.

Where 2 or more are gathered together, Dixie will bring out her tennis ball.

I say "pose," ..... she says "like this?"

I say "no, not like that...." She asks, "Like this?"

Will's saying with a clenched teeth......"CAMERON! OH MY GOSH!!!"

I say, "just normal." She says.......giggle, giggle, snort.

It was just like old times.

Almost.

Egg hunts are fun....but of course, they aren't the real reason we celebrate this day. I hang on to that hope that there is new and ever lasting life. But mostly, I'm thankful that Jesus paid my debt....

Thursday, April 21, 2011

Sometimes I walk in to a classroom and take over. Yesterday, as one of the teachers was handling a problem, I took over the "calendar time" because the other natives were getting restless on the floor.

Monday, April 18, 2011

This past weekend was the BPms150 Bike Ride from Houston to Austin. Thousands of bikers riding to raise money and awareness to find a cure for Multiple Sclerosis. Cameron crossed the finish line in Austin for a second year in a row.

Day One, Saturday, April 16, 2011.....this was the route....leaving Houston and ending up in LaGrange.

You should be able to click on the photo to enlarge it for the details.

We drove to LaGrange and waited for Cameron and her friend Blake for a couple of hours....they could only text us to let us know where they were at the rest stops. After awhile we decided to meet up with them on the road somewhere around the last rest stop so we could head on over to Austin for the night.

Here comes Blake with Cameron behind him.

I was asked not to put these pictures on here, but I have rights.

I am proud of this sweaty, tired and dirty girl.

Hello. Goodbye.

Headed to Austin.

Made it there just as the sun was setting.

Day 2, Sunday, April 17, 2011....LaGrange to Austin.

This day was all about us waiting around the finish line with a million other people. And dogs.

You just cannot imagine the number of people who participate, volunteer or support this thing.

I'm not very good at waiting. I did a lot of pacing, a lot of people watching, a lot of talking to strangers, a lot of picture taking. I also made a mental list of all the things I would bring next year. Chairs being at the top of the list.

Ice chest...right below chairs.

Right after this point...the Finish Line....the street curves around. So Chuck and I had a plan. He would wait a good ways before this point and watch for Cameron and Blake. I would wait around the curve where the bikers start slowing down. Chuck would text me, and I would be ready to take their picture as they came around the curve. Sounded like a great plan. Because honestly, there were so many bikers and they all begin to look alike. If I could even focus that long.

Wait.

Wait.

Wait.

Wait.

Wait.

Wait.

Wait.

Wait.

Wait.

Start taking pictures of anybody in an FMC jersey. Blue with red letters.

Wait.

Wait.

Wait.

Oh, more FMC jerseys. Snap.

Nope. Not them.

Wait. Where the heck is Chuck?

Why hasn't he texted me yet? Cameron should have been here by now.

The ? people are here for any questions you may have.

Here's my question. Where's Chuck?

Wait.

Wait.

Watched a guy run his bike in.

The crowd goes crazy over him.

Wait.

Wait.

Wait.

More FMC jerseys!

Snap. Snap. Nope. Nope.

Snap. Snap.

Wait a minute.

That looks like Blake.........that looks like Cam..............

IT'S THEM! Finally! There they are on the right. Behind the guy in red.

And just as quickly as I saw them........there they go.

Slowing down. To a stop. It's over. They did it!

Wait a minute. Where the heck is Chuck?

As I'm looking around, here he comes. He caught them on video for a split second...then tried to run with the camera to catch a better view of them.